Photographic processing apparatus



Aug. 9, 1960 J, NEIDLE ETAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3, 1958 @Zzzzzzzr 43 8 42 INVENTORS JOEL NEIDLE BY JOSEPH V. M CARTHY E El na, MJL

ATTORNEYS States Patent 2,948,209 PHOTOGRAPHICV PROCESSING APPARATUS Joel Neidle, Huntington, and Joseph V. McCarthy, Flushing, N.Y., assignors to Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation, Syosset, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 765,242

3 Claims, (Cl. 95-89) This invention relates to photography, and has for its object the provision of an improved apparatus for use in the processing of photographic film. The invention is particularly concerned :with the rapid processing of film of indefinite or continuous length, such as is supplied in rolls and used to form and develop a series of images as in moving picture apparatus, or apparatus of the type used in aerial military reconnaissance, and provides an improved device for applying to a moving film or photographic sheet a uniform layer of developer solution.

The improved device of the invention is a solution applicator including means for holding the moving film or sheet of photographic material in a precise location while applying thereto a metered uniformly thin layer of a viscous developer solution. The applicator comprises means for mounting it in or on a camera or associated processing equipment, means for receiving a supply of solution under pressure, an apertured surface over which the film passes and engages the solution which is under pressure in the aperture, and a guide means through which the film passes while one side is held in contact with the solution. The film is held in position over the aperture by a close fitting cover which also serves as a lateral guide member to hold the film in precise alignment. At the forward end of the aperture, the surface over which the film passes has a recess which is cut out a very small amount to provide a metering means which shears oif the excess solution leaving on the film a uniform layer of the desired thickness which is determined 7 by the depth of the recess.

The solution applicator of the invention is particularly suitable for use with the so-called monobath developer solutions which contain a thickener, such as carboxy methylcellulose, and have a relatively high viscosity. The device can be used in the rapid processing of films under a wide range of temperature and pressure, such as are encountered in aerial military photography. The applicator not only applies the coating in a uniformly metered layer but it prevents undue spillage or leakage loss in the equipment under variable conditions of operation.

In the accompanying drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a side-view schematic illustration of an arrangement of photographic apparatus employing the solution applicator of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the solution applicator illustrating a manner of use as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a modification of the solution applicator of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the sandwich product produced in the apparatus.

Fig. 1 illustrates generally one of the many combinations of photographic apparatus in which the solution applicator may be used. The apparatus within the housing 1 is for processing film 2 which has been exposed in an attached camera (not shown), and forming a sandwich product. The apparatus may be used as a part of a camera-processor-viewer installation in which the film which has been exposed in the camera is led into the illustrated apparatus for rapid processing and then the resulting sandwich product is led directly to a viewing station (not shown) or to any desired further processmg.

The film 2 is understood to be from a roll within a camera and it enters the housing 1 through a light tight slot 3. The film passes over the tension-applying roller means 4, then over the direction roller 5, between the supporting rollers 6 and 7 and into the solution applicator 8, which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 2. The roller 7 is mounted on the arm 12 of the electric switch 13 and is so constructed that the switch is closed only when film is between the rollers 6 and 7. The solution applicator is supplied with developer solution under pressure from the container 14 and pipe 15. The manner in which the solution applicator functions will be described hereinafter. The developer solution composition is no part of this invention, as any of the several available solutions may be employed. One means of maintaining the solution under pressure is with a spring-loaded pistoncartridge 16 within the container 14.

The coated film leaving the applicator is brought into contact with another film 17, such as a clear film of Saran to protect the delicate film as described in the patent application of Berthold Pollick and Seymour Schrack, Serial No. 765,219, filed October 3, 1958, or a positive forming sheet as described in the patent application of Charles N. Edwards and Walter W. Ryne, Serial No. 765,232, filed October 3, 1958. The film or sheet 17 is supplied from the roll 18 and is drawn up over direction roller 21 to make contact with the coated face of film 2. The two films ,with the interposed developer solution form a sandwich product 22 which is drawnby the sprocket wheel 23, over the direction roller 24, and is directed from wheel 23 into the light tight slot 25 to any suitable apparatus, such as a take-up roll or a viewing device. The Wheel 23 is driven at the desired speed by the belt 26 and pulley 27 of the motordriven variable speed device 28. Power is supplied by the battery 31 and the motor can be operated by the switch 32 in the circuit 33. When there is no film between rollers 6 and 7, the roller 7 rises and operates switch 13 to open the circuit and stop the motor. The circuit 33 is in series with switches 13 and 32, and with a solenoid valve 34 in the applicator whereby the opcning of either switch will stop the motor and close the solenoid valve which stops the flow of solution.

The solution applicator as best shown in Fig. 2 cornprises a base block 36, which is removably attached to the metering member 37 and has an opening therein connecting the pipe 15 to the chamber 38. The pipe 15 is attached to the base 36 and has the solenoid valve 34 therein to control the flow of the solution to the film. As shown in Fig. 2, the upper surface 39 over which the film passes is flat and the mouth or opening into the chamber 38 is slightly narrower than the width of the film as measured between the inside of the sprocket holes 40. The forward part of the surface has an undercut 42 the same Width as the mouth and an edge 43 which serve as a gage or metering means. The cover 44 is hinged at 45 to the metering member and is arranged to assume an operative position over the film and in snug contact with the surface 39 as shown in Fig. 1, or the open position shown in Fig. 2. The cover has an undercut 46 the width and thickness of the film through which the film passes when the cover is closed. The ribs 47 and 48 make direct bearing contact with the surface 39 and insure the precise passage of the film over the mouth 3 of the chamber 38. In view of the pressure applied on the under side of the film by the solution, it is necessary to hold the cover in position and this is done by the screw 50 which makes engagement with the threaded hole 51.

When the film is drawn .across the surface 39 and chamber 38, the developer solution, preferably a'viscous monoba th under .a low pressure, is caused to adhere to the film. As the film passes over the undercut 42 and edge 43, the excess solution is sheared olf leaving a uniform layer on the film which is determined by the amount of undercut. It will be noted that the roller 21, which guides the coated film 2 and the film 17 into sandwiching contact, has a central recess 52, the purpose of which is to prevent undue pressure directly over the freshly applied solution.

The modified applicator illustrated in Fig. 3 is generally similar to the applicator of Fig. 2 with the exception that the film-bearing surfaces of the metering member 53 and the cover 54 are curved.

What is claimed is:

l. A solution applicator for applying solution in a uniform thin layer to a moving photographic film or the like which comprises a metering member having an apertured surface over which the film passes, a cover for the metering member provided with means which cooperate with the surface to guide the film and hold it in precise position as it passes over the aperture, means for supplying a solution under pressure to the aperture, and a recess in the surface which is contiguous with and beyond the aperture in the direction of film travel, said recess having an edge Which shears off the eXceSs solution leaving a uniform thin layer on the film.

2. A solution applicator according to claim 1 which comprises a spring-loaded cartridge for supplying solution under pressure to the applicator.

3. A solution applicator according to claim 1 which comprises an electrically operated valve for controlling the supply of solution to the applicator and an electrical switch which is operated by the film for cont-rolling the valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,587,350 Maiwald Feb. 26, 1952 2,631,511 Tuttle Mar. 17, 1953 2,688,278 'Iuttle Sept. 7, 1954 

